Tobacco-machine.



0. HAMMERSTEIN.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2I, I9I3.

1,137,206. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.Dimmu-lm FIIIIIIIII ll ll |Ill[Illllllllllllllllllllllllll- IllllHI IIrA TOR/VE Y S THE-MORRIS PETERS 1:0.,PH0To-LITH0.. WASHINGTON. Dv C,

o. HAMMERSTEIN.

TOBACCO MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21| I9I3.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

W/T/VESSES /momw THF MORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. DA C.

v oscaa k1iai/nvmnscinnv, or New YORK; 1v. Y.

' TOBACCO-MACHINE.

. of this vtype which includes a simplerand effective mechanism'fortreating the stems of tobacco leaf, either as a part of the leaf orseparate therefrom, ma manner to render the said stems readilycombustible and available for use inA the manufacture of cigars, andwhich further includes. an improved booking .mechanism adapted toreceive the treated tobacco from the treating mechanism and book thesame in an effective and continuous manner.

Ojther objects of Vmy invention will appear from the descriptionhereinafter andthe 1 features of novelty will be pointed out in theappended claims.

- Reference is to lbe had to the accompany-V Vingdrawings 1n whichy lFigure 1 1s a side elevation of my 11nproved machine; Fig. 2 is. a frontelevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 is a centralcross-section of said machine; `and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view ofa clutch used in my improved construction.

The mechanism for treating the ,stems of the leaf, as shown inV thedrawings, .com-

prises superimposed rollers 5 and 6, the

roller 5 beingsuitably journaled in the mainy frame 7 of the machine andthe roller 6 being rotatably mounted in blocks 8. The blocks 8 'areslidably mounted in upright guides or standards 9 located at oppositesides ofthe frame 7 and are thus capable of a movement .lengthwise ofsaid guides wherew by the roller 6 is capable of adjustment toward andaway from the roller 5.

In order that the degree of pressure exerted by the roller 6 on theroller 5 may be regulated and adjusted .when necessary or desired Iprefer to provide adjusting screws 10 .in screw-threaded engagement withtransverse members 9a `of the guides or standards 9, lock-nuts 10e.being provided for securing said screws 10 an adjusted position. Thesescrews 10 are preferably formed with operating `heads 11 by means ofwhich the same may be readilyumaiiipu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 21 Patented Apr'. 2"?, 1915. ,1913. serial119.802.1158. I'

latedV and ,eitherl simply bear against the blocks 8 or are rotatablyconnected there' with. Y.

It will readily be seen with this arrangement that, as the screws ,10are actuated in one direction or `the other the blocks 8 will be movedin the guides 9 and the pressure exerted by the roller 6 on the roller 5will be regulated accordingly. The said rollers 5 and 6 in theillustrated form of my Vinvention are operatively connected by means ofpinions 12 and 13 located respectively on the roller shafts 52L and 6aand maybe rotatably driven in any suitable manner, for instance as willbe more fully described hereinafter. The rollers 5 and 6 as shown inFig. 2 are corrugated or otherwise roughened at an intermediate point asindicated at 14 and 14a, the said corrugated or roughened portions beingrelatively narrow and the remainder of the rollers 5 and 6 beingpreferably smooth as clearly shownin Fig. 2. In order that thecorrugations or the like 14 of the roller 5y may be' kept freeand cleanand at all times in operative condition when the machine is in useIprefer to provide a receptacle 15 adapted to contain water or othersuitable liquid 16'and having itsopen end closed by a capV 17 providedwith a tubular extension v18 preferably of angular cross-section, saidcap being ably or otherwise fastened in position on the receptacle inany-suitable manner. A wick or the like 19 extends through saidextension 18 into the liquid 16 and is secured in position either simplyby friction or in any other convenient way with one end projectingbeyond said extension 18. A suitable opening 20 may also be provided insaid cap 17 through which the liquid 16 may be introduced into thereceptacle 15, said opening 20 being sealed for instance by means of ascrew-threaded stopper 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When in itsoperative position the receptacle 15 is supported in an invertedposition, upon a ycross-bar 22 rigidly mounted on an auxiliary frame 7apivoted at 7b upon` the main frame 7 as. shown in Figs. 1 and 4, theextension 18 being located in a recess or sleeve Qforming par't'of saidvbar'22 f ith the free end of the wick 19 in wiping engagement with thecorrugations o-r other roughened portions 14 of the roller 6.

The auxiliary frame 7a is provided with projections 7c adapted to restupon the guides or standards 9 for supporting the detach-y front end ofsaid auxiliary frame 7 when in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1.It is to be understood, that said wick is of sufficient width to engagethe corrugated or otherwise roughened portion 14 through-Y out andwipethe same as the rollers are rotated. The corrugations or roughenedportion 14a of the roller 5 may be maintained in proper operativecondition by means of a separate wiper or the liquid passing from theroller 6 may simply be relied on to clean saidfportion 14*1 of theroller 5. If desired or found necessaryI may also provide a suitabledrip pan beneath the roller 5 Vfor catching any drippings from therollers 5 and 6.

The booking mechanism as shown in the present drawings of the machine,comprises a drum 24 preferably covered with felt or other cushioningmaterial 25 whereby injury to the tobacco by'direct contact with thedrum surface during booking is prevented. The drum 24 is carried by ashaft 26 or is simply provided with trunnions extending from oppositeend faces, the said shaft or trunnions as the case may be beingjournaled in arms 27 preferably connected by a cross-bar 28 to form arigid frame as shown in Fig. 2. These arms 27 are pivoted at 29 upon themain frame 7 so that said drum 24 is capable of a swinging movementtoward and away from the rollers 5 and 6 for the purpose to be moreclearlyA described hereinafter. A pair of endless. belts or aprons 30pass around the drinn v24 and around the smooth portions of the roller 5at opposite sides of the corrugated portions 14CL thereof and furtherpass over .rollers 31, 32 and 33 journaled on the main frame 7 andaround a roller 34 and over guide-rollers 35 rotatably mounted on theauxiliary frame 71, the rollers 35 being provided with flanges 35 and35b for maintaining said belts or aprons each in a constant path.k Tnlorder that the belts or aprons 30 may at all times be maintained undertension or in a proper operative relation to the drum I conduct the saidbelts or aprons overV a tension roller 36 preferably fianged in the samemanner as the rollers 35. This tension roller 36 is journaled upon bellcrank levers 37 pivoted at 38 upon the main frame 7 and connected tomove in unison by means of a cross-bar or roller 39 over which theaprons 30 also pass, a rod 40 being suspended from said bell cranks bymeans of links 41 and serving to detachably support one or more weights42 whereby the tension roller 36 is maintained against the said aprons30 to keep them always under the required tension.

An intermediate relatively narrow belt or apron 30L is located betweenthe aprons 30 and also passes around the drum 24 and rollers32 and 34and over the rollers 35 and 36 between' the flanges 35b of the rollers35 and the corresponding Vflanges of the roller 36.v This intermediatebelt 30a does not pass around the Vroller 5 or over theV roller 31 andis permitted to have a movement relatively to the aprons 30 undercertain conditions to be explained hereinafterY byV means of anauxiliary tension roller 36a journaled upon arms 37Pcap'able of arocking movement on the shaft ofthe roller 36. Tn

the illustration the weight of the auxiliaryV tension roller 36EL aloneis relied-upon to properly maintain the auxiliary belt 30 undei.' propertension, 'although it will be readilyapparent that additional weight 6may be used if this is not found sufficient. VA

sprocket-wheel 43 is fixed upon the drum-V shaft 26 and is connected bymeans of a sprocket chain 44 with a Vsecond sprocket wheel 45 which issecured to or forms part of a clutch member 46 looselymounted on adriving shaft-47, Vrotatably mounted on the main frame 7. As shown inthe drawing clutch member 46 is providedV with a plunger 48 and a coilspring-49 having a tendencyV to move said plunger48 outwardly relativelyto said clutch member 46. j This plunger 48 is maintained in itsretracted position againstV ice tion by means of a spring 56 connectedwith the member 50 and whereby thefree end of 1 the latter is alsomaintained in the groove 52. A second clutch member 57 is fixed upon thedriving shaft 47and is provided withdiametricallyl opposite projections58 adapted to coperate with the plunger 48 to couple the clutch-member46 to the member 57 and driving shaft 47 when the treadle 54 is'actuatedto start the machine. v

If desired a tension roller 59 mounted on a member 60, pivoted at 61 onone arm 27 i and under the influence of a spring 62, may be provided fortaking up any sla-ckA in the sprocket chain 44, and for insuring aperfect operative adjustment thereof at all times. With the clutchmechanism and gearing so far described and shown the drum 24 is given ahalf revolution each time the treadle'54 is operated and is thenautomatically again brought to a standstill as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. Tfl no other control of the drum 24 than lthis isdesireda belt pulley 63 may be fixed upon the driving shaft 47 and maybe driven from any desired source to actuate the shaft 47 and connectedmechanism. Under certain conditions however it'may be found of adtheprojections 58 into engagement with thev vantage to stop the `rotativemovement v.of the thecompletionr inits normal condition operativelyconnects the said pulley 63 with the shaft 47 This clutch 64 iscontrolled by means of arcollar 6 5 slidably mounted on the shaft 47 butadapted to rotate therewith and connected with the forked end of a bellcrank lever 66 pivoted at 67` upon the main frame 7. The bell cranklever 66 is connectedthrough the medium of a link 68 with a treadle 69pivoted at 70 upon the main frame-7 and maintained in its normallyoperative or raised position by means of a Yspring 71, the said treadleVserving to 'actuate or release the clutch when desired in the mannerwhich will bemore fully brought out Afarther on in the description.

The operation of the machine is as follows After the driving shaft 47has been set inV motion through the medium of the pulley 63 and itis'desired to start the machine, the treadle 54 is depressed byy footpower or otherwise to swing the member 50 on its pivot 50a and thuswithdraw the camface 51 from the groove 52V and out of engagement withthe projection 48a. The plunger the influence of the spring 49 into thepath ofthe projections 58 on the clutch membery 57. This clutch member57 beingfast on the shaft 47 will move one of wardly under projectingplunger 48 and thus operatively connect the sprocket 45 and connectedmechanism with said driving shaft 47. The

movement of the sprocket 45 will be trans mitted to the sprocket 43 bymeans of thev chain 44 and -will thus bring about a rotation of the drum24 and an actuation of the belts or aprons 30l and 30a, the aprons 30 inturn serving to rotate the roller 5, which latter, owing to itsconnection with the roller 6 through the medium of the gears l2 and 13will thus also rotate said roller' 6.

It is to be understood that pressure on the treadle 54 is immediatelyremoved after the machine has beenstarted as described so that thetreadle 54 is immediately returned to normal position under the Vinfluence of the spring 56 and the cam face 5l is moved backl into thegroove 52 in which it is located during the actuation of the clutchmember 45 as described. It will thus be seen that at the end of onecomplete revolution of the member 45 the lug 48a will be re-l 6'5 quencedisconnect the clutch member 46 48 having by this operation beenv freedfrom restraint will be moved out-V from the clutch member 57. In thismanner the rotation of the drum 24 is automatically stoppedperiodically, the illustrated form of my improvement as before statedshowing this stoppage occurring twice during each complete revolution ofthe drum, or in other words the drum is'brought to rest at theend ofeach half revolution, the sprockets 43 and 45 being proportioned tosecure this result. It' will of course be understood that the drum 24may be stopped at the end of longer or shorter intervals if this shouldbe desired. If for any reason it should become necessary to bring thedrumk to a standstillbefore'the automatic stoppage thereof is brought'about as described, the treadle 69 is depressed and maintained in thiscondition vas long as the operator desires the Vdrum 24 to remain'atrest. The *actuationi of the treadle 69 will. rock the bell crank `66and will consequently move the collar l to the left in Fig. 2 and permitthe arms of the clutch 64 to move toward the shaft 47 under springaction or otherwise and lin consequence release saidv clutch '64 fromoperative engagement with the pulley 63.' Thisy pulley being loose onthe shaftr 47 will in this condition of the parts rotate idly without inany way effecting the shaft 47 As soon as the pressure is removed fromthe said treadle 69, the spring 71 will immedi ately return it to normalposition and through the reverse operation of theV bellcrank 66 willmove the collar 65 back toward operatively connect thel clutch 64 ,withthe pulley 63 to again drive the shaft'47.

During the operation of the machine the tobacco leaf a with the stemremaining therein is introduced between the rollers 5 and 6 with thestem thereof opposite the, corrugated or otherwise roughened portions14and 14a and the remainder of the leaf being opposite the smooth portionsof the said rollers at opposite sides of said' portions `l4 and 14a.rlhe' said leaf will thus be fed between said-rollers, which in additionto their other functions therefore also constitute a feeding means andthe stem of the leaf Vwill `be subjected to the action of thecorrugatedor otherwise roughened portions 14 and 14a and itscharacteristics changed to make said stem readily combustible andavailable for use in cigars or the like. At any time during itsA passagebetween the rollers y5 and 6'the operation of the machine may be checkedas before stated by simply depressing the treadle 69, in order to givethe operator `an opportunity to unfold or straighten out the leaf orotherwise adjust the same for proper feeding between said rollers 5 and6. From these rollers the treated leaf a passes downwardly between theaprons 30 and 3 0a and the felted surface 25 of the drum 24,'thestem'being located adjacent to the apron a and the remainder of the leafbeing next to the aprons 30. In A this manner the leaf is finallyremovedv from the rollers 5 and 6 and finally becomes deposited upon the`drum 24 after which the movement of the drum is automatically arrestedas hereinbefore set forth.

After the tread'le54 has' been again actuated a second leaf` isintroduced and fed between the rollers 5 and 6 Yand is finallyVdeposited on the drum 24 in the'same manner, the two leaves beinglocated one behind theother as shown in Fig. 4. vA third leaf which maynow be introduced will become deposited upon the first leaf on the drum,while the following andffonrth leaf will become deposited upon thesecond, and so on,A two separate bookings of treated tobacco.v being in,this manner built up on thel drum n 24 at diametrically opposite-pointsthereof as will be clearly apparent from an'inspection of Fig. 4. As theleaf accumulates in the manner described the aprons 30 will be graduallymoved away from the periphery of thel drum 24, the bell cranks .37 withthe roller 36 swinging on the pivot 38 `to allow for this movement ofthe said aprons. During this operation the apron 30a will be similarlymoved away from the drum by the stem portions of the leaf and as thesestem portions are relatively thicker than the remainder of the leaf thebooking will be thicker at these points and the said apron 30a will beat a greater distance from the surface of thedrum Vthan arethe aprons30.

Thisindependent adjustment of the apron '30a is possible owing to theYfact that the rods 37"LL and roller 36"L arefcapable of an independentswinging movement on the shaft of the roller 36 and therefore permit anindividual and separate yield ofl said apron 30?L as is also clearlyindicated in Fig.

4. At the same time as thebookings crease in vthickness or size thebooked leaf will exert a pressure on the roller 32 and also on the drum24 and as the roller 32 is fixed against movement transversely of itsaxis, the said pressure will cause the arms 27 to swing on the pivot 29andthe drum 24 in consequence to moveaway from the roller 32 and rollers5 and 6.V rEhe drum 24 thus automatically adjusts itself to 'accommodatebooks of any thickness within its range of operation, the books being atall times firmly held on the drum by the aprons andr the leafconsequently protected against injury. The pressure exerted by theseveral aprons under the influence of the weights 32 and rolle-r 3Ginsure a perfect booking of tlie'leaf, which at the same time is treatedto renderthe stems available for use in cigars and therefore avoidingthe necessity for stripping said leaf. Vhen the desired thickness ofboeking has been secured the auxiliary frame 7a is raised about itspivot for feeding tobacco leaf,

the booking proceeds and 7b to the-position shown in dotted lines inYFig'. 4 or until arrested. by the stopV 7d vlocated on the frame 7Y forfrom the drum, after which the drum'is rotated to bring the second bookinto a posi- Q operative connection with the sprockets 43V and 45. 1 1.

It is of course to be understood that the drum 24 may be so proportionedand the machine otherwise so book or more than two books may be piled upthereon, the illustration being only an example of my improvedinachine.ln the preferred construction as shown the drum 24 is so mounted as tohave a tendency at all times to swing machine or toward the rollers ownweight and thus even Vwhen fully loaded withbooked tobacco leaf to beprevented from dropping backward toward the lrear of the machine.Thisarrangement avoids the necessity for using springs or analogous de-lvices for securing this. result.

lt is further obvious that thevstem treat-` My improved machine isextremely sim-1 ple in operation and construction and is ealily operatedor controlled by unskilled la or out of order.

Various changes in shown and the scope from the spirit of my invention.

l claim: f

l. A tobacco machine the specific form described maybe made withincomprising means relatively stationary bearings for said feeding means,booking means for receiving said leaf from said this purpose, thusleaving the first book free to be removedY arranged that a singletowardthe front of the 'Y 5 and 6 by its of the claims without departing l 10or and is not likely to become disarranged,

feeding means and automatically adjustable relatively thereto bypressure exerted bythe booked leaf toward the feeding means as mechanismvfor actuating said means.

2. A tobacco machine comprising means for feeding tobacco leaf,relatively stationary bearings for said feeding means, a rotatablebooking drum adapted to receive the leaf 'from said' feeding means; a Vmovable support for said Vlrum whereby the position .of saiddrum 1sautomatically adjusted relal tiyelyto said feeding means by pressureexerted by the booked leaf toward the feeding means as the bookingproceeds and mechanism foractuating said means and drum.

3. A tobacco machine comprising means for feeding tobacco leaf,relativelyv stationary bearings-for said feeding 1neans,booking meansfor receiving said leaf from said feeding means and automaticallyadjustable relatively thereto by pressure exerted by the' booked leaftoward the feeding means as the booking proceeds, mechanism foractuating said means and means for moving a portion of said bookingmeans relatively to another portion thereof to permit a removal of thebooks of tobacco.

4. A` tobacco machine'comprising a pair of feed rollers, a rotatabledrum adjacent to said feed rollers, a pivoted support for said drumwhereby the latter is moved away from said feed rollers by pressureexerted by the booked leaf, means for actuating said drum, an apronpassing around said drum and coperating therewith for booking tobaccoleaf, said apron being operatively connected with said feed rollers toactuate same and means for maintaining said apron under tension and forpermitting a movement thereof away from the surface of the drum toaccommodate the leaf as the booking pro- Y ceeds.

5; A tobacco machine comprising a pair of feed rollers, a rotatable drumadjacent to said feed rollers, a pivoted support for said drum wherebythe latter is moved away from said feed rollers by pressure exerted bythe booked leaf, means for actuating said passing around said drum andcoperating therewith for booking tobacco-leaf, one of said aprons beingoperatively connected with lsaid feed rollers to actuate same and meansfor maintaining said aprons under tension and for permitting anindependent movement thereof away from the surface of the drum to Yaccommodate the leaf as the booking proceeds. l

6. A. tobacco machine comprising a pair of feed rollers, a rotatabledrum adjacent to said feed rollers, a pivoted support for said drumwhereby said drum is moved away from said feed rollers by pressureexerted by the booked leaf, an apron passing around said drum andcoperating therewith for booking tobacco leaf, said apron-beingoperatively connected with said feed rollers, actuating mechanism, andmeans for voperatively connecting said actuating mechanism with saiddrum andfeed rollers and for automatically disconnecting same at the endof a predetermined period of operation.

7. A Vtobacco machine comprising a pair predetermined period of of feedrollers, a rotatable drum adjacentto Y from said feed rollers bypressure-exerted by the booked leaf, an apron passing around said drumand coperating therewith for booking tobacco leaf, said apron beingoperatively connected with said feed rollers, actuating mechanism, meansfor operativelyconnecting said actuating mechanism with said drum andfeed yrollers and for automatically disconnecting same at the en d ofa Aoperation and means for temporarily disconnecting said actuatingmechanism before said predetermined period of operation has passed.

8. A tobacco machine comprising a pair of coperating rollers providedwith relatively narrow coperating corrugated portions intermediate oftheir ends and with smooth portions at opposite sides of said corrugatedportions, a drum, aprons passing around said drum and around the smoothportions of one of said rollers, an intermediate apron between saidfirst aprons passing around said drum and adjacent to said corrugatedportions, said aprons coperating with said drum for booking tobacco,meansy for permitting a` movement of said aprons y away from the surfaceof said drum to accommodate the leaf as the booking proceeds, means forpermitting a movement of said intermediate apron away from said drumindependently of said other aprons and mechanism for actuating saiddrum, aprons and rollers.

9. A tobacco vmachine comprising a pair of coperating rollers providedwith relatively narrow coperating corrugated portions intermediate oftheir ends and with smooth portions at opposite sides of saidVcorrugated portions, a drum, aprons passing around said drum and aroundthe smooth portions of one of said rollers, an intermediate apronbetween said first aprons passing around said drum and adjacent to saidcorrugated portions, said aprons coperating with said drum for bookingtobacco, means for permitting a movement of said aprons away from thesurface of said drum to accommodate the leaf as the booking proceeds,means for permitting a movement of said intermediate apron away fromsaid drum independently of said other aprons, mechanism for actuatingsaid drum, aprons and rollers and means for moving a portion of saidaprons away from said drum to permit a removal of the books of tobacco.

l0. A tobacco machine comprising a pair of coperating rollers providedwith rela-v tively narrow coperating corrugated portions intermediate oftheir ends and with smooth portions at opposite sides of said corrugatedportions, a drum, aprons passing around said drum and around the smoothportions of one of said rollers, an intermediate apron between saidiirst aprons passing around said drum and adjacent to said corrugatedportions, said aprons coperating with said drum for booking tobacco,means for permitting a movement of said Y aprons away from the surfaceof said drum to accommodate the leail as the booking proceeds, means forpermitting a movement of said intermediate apron away from said drumindependently of said other aprons,

mechanism for actuating said drum, aprons and rollers and means forcleaning the eorrugated portions of said rollers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

osoAR HAMMERSTEIN.

Witnesses JOHN A. KEHLENBECK, y G. V. RAsMUssEN.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner "of Patents.

- Washington. 10.6.

